55 PLUS

Moving on--with help of a specialist

March 18, 2007|By Jane Adler, Special to the Tribune

Talk about stressful. Rita Stevens had to move on short notice to Westminster Place, a retirement community in Evanston. Her husband had a serious neurological disorder and couldn't help. She didn't feel up to the task herself because of the exhausting job of caring for her husband. But the building offered a resource, Gero Solutions, a Palatine-based company that moves seniors and helps with the transition.

Gero Solutions provided a floor plan of the new apartment, so Stevens knew how much furniture she could take. Then it packed the couple's belongings and moved them into the new place. Everything was unpacked. The bed was made, the pictures hung and the coffeemaker plugged in. Gero Solutions donated unwanted items to charity and sold some valuables on eBay.

"They gave me a list of what had been sold along with a check," said Stevens. "They did everything."

After her husband died and Stevens moved to another unit, she called the service again.

Every move should be so easy. Recognizing that a move can be especially difficult for a senior, an industry has sprouted that caters to the older set. About five years ago, companies that move only those 55 and older formed a trade association, the National Association of Senior Move Managers.

The companies organized because they aren't quite like other movers; older people sometimes have very specific needs. Some seniors have lots of possessions that can't fit in a new place, so the things have to be disposed of or given away. Also, a move, which can unsettle anyone, can be especially stressful for an older person who may feel a great sense of loss at giving up a longtime home and beloved possessions.

"There are a lot of emotional triggers in a relocation," said Nan Hayes, director of Senior Stages, a division of Stagedhomes.com, a Chicago-based training firm. Nationwide, Hayes figures about 175 companies or individuals, not all certified, move seniors. This growing network allows movers to refer business to each other in cases where a senior is moving out of state.

A certified specialist should be able to meet a senior's needs, Hayes said. The specialist should be aware of the emotional issues involved in moving a senior, as well as having many good sources for movers and other vendors such as companies that can modify homes. Certified specialists also undergo a criminal background check, are insured and have agreed to follow applicable local and state regulations.

Most specialists will come in and provide a free estimate for the job. Costs can vary widely, depending on the scope of the work. For instance, a move only will cost less than disposing of many items and packing.

The building to which the senior is moving will sometimes pay the specialist's fee. Buildings often use these services to ease the older person's transition. So ask whether the building you're considering provides the service.

A computer-generated space plan is one of the most often requested services from Gero Solutions, according to company owner Mary Jo Zeller.

/p>"It tells you what will fit in the new place," she said.

Zeller's business has grown substantially the last few years. Her company did 400 to 500 moves last year. Most often a move is made after a crisis in which a relocation, say to an assisted-living building, is needed quickly, she added. Though Zeller recommends taking 30 to 60 days for a relocation, she said the process can be done in a week, if necessary.